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Softening Honda Unicorn's rear suspension

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  • Softening Honda Unicorn's rear suspension

    Hi all

    I am a novice biker considering technical/mechanical aspects of bikes...but like bike riding
    For last 5 yrs i was owning Bajaj discover 125 Dtsi model and at start of 2012 got my new Honda Unicorn (now it's 8 months / 5k km old)
    What I have observed is....even at speed as low as 10-20 kmph...whenever unicorn goes from any bump/pothole/unleveled road...rear suspension doesn't help to absorb impact and i can feel d impact on my lower back
    I used to ride discover on such roads but when compared to unicorn, it was kind of back pampering
    I am totally fed up due to this as i ride total 50 kms daily (to n fro) n stiff suspension of unicorn is giving me lot of back pain

    is there any way I can make it soft?
    I have already kept rear suspension setting at soft level...n service center ppl r telling me to make it hard to get better ride quality

    few things abt d way i ride bikes

    total travel - 25km + 25 km (to n from)
    duration - 1 hr continuous in 1 direction
    on highways - completely steady speed of 60 kmph or 5-5.5k rpm
    on crowded roads - never crosses 4-4.5k rpm level

    i m kind of sane driver for my bike

    on 1 fine day, i tried bajaj avenger on same road and i never felt a single moment of pain even after riding for 1.5 hr at stretch

  • #2
    Query Approved
    Advice is a form of nostalgia.
    Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

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    • #3
      not a single response???

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      • #4
        your weight please! did u feel the same with a pillion on top?
        facebook.com

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        • #5
          Originally posted by mid View Post
          your weight please! did u feel the same with a pillion on top?
          i weight 70kg....with pillion rider....there is no match for comfort between avenger and unicorn ...considering riding with pillion, unicorn is way ahead in comfort compared to avenger

          but my 90% of riding is without pillion

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          • #6
            Then it might be in the stiffer side! turning clockwise twice make it soft by decreasing the spring preload.
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            • #7
              Originally posted by mid View Post
              Then it might be in the stiffer side! turning clockwise twice make it soft by decreasing the spring preload.
              i already did that while servicing my bike in last month....but still same results
              previously i was owning bajaj discover n while going on potholes or small bumps...i used to feel that seat level was remaining on same height from ground

              but on unicorn...even if i m on speed as low as 10-20....i could feel that suspension is not getting damped on road bumps...which directly sends impact to my back

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              • #8
                so u tried both ways(soft & hard) and not finding both comfortable.
                and find the current setting comfortable with a pillion(added weight). So there cant be any problem with the free movement of your swingarm. Only thing to do now is to check with another unicorn and find how it handles the bumps.
                facebook.com

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by mid View Post
                  so u tried both ways(soft & hard) and not finding both comfortable.
                  and find the current setting comfortable with a pillion(added weight). So there cant be any problem with the free movement of your swingarm. Only thing to do now is to check with another unicorn and find how it handles the bumps.
                  hmm
                  BTW i m not sure but is there a way i can fix rear mono shock of unicorn with something else's ....may b gas charged monoshock of impulse (soon to be discontinued)

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Its too early to go for a shock change and that too of an another bike without knowing if it's a direct fit or not and its effect on the rake and trail geometry of your ride. There is a 2 year warranty for the stock mono shock i think. I would personally recommend u to change it both wise, ride and find the comfier side! Increasing spring preload makes the shock “feel” stiffer initially and ideal for bigger and faster bumps.
                    Last edited by mid; 09-08-2012, 10:40 PM.
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                    • #11
                      Stiff Honda Unicorn

                      Originally posted by chandansawant View Post
                      Hi all

                      I am a novice biker considering technical/mechanical aspects of bikes...but like bike riding
                      on 1 fine day, i tried bajaj avenger on same road and i never felt a single moment of pain even after riding for 1.5 hr at stretch
                      I totally agree with you, I never found Unicorn comfortable when riding alone over minor potholes on roads. Thats why from the day one I dont like monoshock even though it is technologically advanced feature but at least Honda could not get the right suspension setup for Unicorn.
                      I dont know what you can do to decrease its stiffness, if the spring is set at the softest position setting then I dont think you can do anything more to reduce the spring stiffness.
                      At max you can go to a suspension expert shop and get those guys advice, but take that advice with a pinch of salt as they might sometimes misguide you to some non-sense just to mint money from you.

                      To the least you could try a more better comfortable seat with more cushion and a little less tyre pressure.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by chandansawant View Post
                        Hi all

                        I am a novice biker considering technical/mechanical aspects of bikes...but like bike riding
                        For last 5 yrs i was owning Bajaj discover 125 Dtsi model and at start of 2012 got my new Honda Unicorn (now it's 8 months / 5k km old)
                        What I have observed is....even at speed as low as 10-20 kmph...whenever unicorn goes from any bump/pothole/unleveled road...rear suspension doesn't help to absorb impact and i can feel d impact on my lower back
                        I used to ride discover on such roads but when compared to unicorn, it was kind of back pampering
                        I am totally fed up due to this as i ride total 50 kms daily (to n fro) n stiff suspension of unicorn is giving me lot of back pain

                        is there any way I can make it soft?
                        I have already kept rear suspension setting at soft level...n service center ppl r telling me to make it hard to get better ride quality

                        few things abt d way i ride bikes

                        total travel - 25km + 25 km (to n from)
                        duration - 1 hr continuous in 1 direction
                        on highways - completely steady speed of 60 kmph or 5-5.5k rpm
                        on crowded roads - never crosses 4-4.5k rpm level

                        i m kind of sane driver for my bike

                        on 1 fine day, i tried bajaj avenger on same road and i never felt a single moment of pain even after riding for 1.5 hr at stretch
                        Monoshock are basically meant give the bike a better CoG, and a monoshock can't be as comfortable as twin shocks. Also, Discover suspension is much more softer, because it's out and out commuter, ditto with avenger which is meant to be cruiser. On the other hand Unicorn's suspension is on the stiffer side, as any other monoshock bike and is a better handler. Though the suspension will eventually get softer with usage. What you can do is try to ride on foot pegs when on really bad roads.
                        Been There, Done That; Better!

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Softening Honda Unicorn's rear suspension

                          After riding my unicorn for 10000 km and researching all about suspension and other aspects of bike i came to know a very interesting fact and solution to this problem
                          majority of unicorn owner will agree with me that the stock tires provided with unicorn i.e. zapper y (rear) do not get wear down even after 25000 km as it is made of super hard compound so it never provides right feedback to the mono shockup
                          i realized that and changed my rear tire to ceat zoom and there was so much difference in the ride quality the rear shock started working superbly as ceat tires being made of soft compound started giving best feedback to mono shock up and really solved my problem
                          the mrf zapper y is the worst tires for any bike dont know why honda is using in there bike the bike is awesome suspension is awesome just change tires to soft compound tires the problem will be solved

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Softening Honda Unicorn's rear suspension

                            Originally posted by bike_1 View Post
                            After riding my unicorn for 10000 km and researching all about suspension and other aspects of bike i came to know a very interesting fact and solution to this problem
                            majority of unicorn owner will agree with me that the stock tires provided with unicorn i.e. zapper y (rear) do not get wear down even after 25000 km as it is made of super hard compound so it never provides right feedback to the mono shockup
                            i realized that and changed my rear tire to ceat zoom and there was so much difference in the ride quality the rear shock started working superbly as ceat tires being made of soft compound started giving best feedback to mono shock up and really solved my problem
                            the mrf zapper y is the worst tires for any bike dont know why honda is using in there bike the bike is awesome suspension is awesome just change tires to soft compound tires the problem will be solved
                            Sorry .... Don't understand .... Will you please explain???

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Softening Honda Unicorn's rear suspension

                              Even my New Unicorn 160 having same problem,I dont no why R&D department Honda is not addressing this problem.Honda should come out with proper soulution for this problem. I think I have to try what bike_1 suggested. bike_1 could you please provide more feedback after chaing the tyre.

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